The All-Star break is almost here, and with it comes the usual excitement surrounding the first phase of voting. The American League ballot is in, and while no one expected much representation from struggling teams like the White Sox, there’s another twist in the tale. Not a single Astros player cut! Yes, you read that right.
A division-leading team completely shut out in fan voting? As ridiculous as it sounds, the Astros seem to have missed the bus by a wide margin this time around. Even the Orioles, with a 34-46 record, got their name on the list.
Well, the Astros are running the show in the AL West this year, leading the division with a 48-33 record. But what’s even more impressive is they’re doing it while battling a wave of injuries. Losing experienced players like Lance McCullers Jr. has certainly hurt, but others have stepped up. The likes of Jeremy Pena, Hunter Brown, and rookie Cam Smith have all fueled Houston’s push toward October.
But here’s the million-dollar question! How is it that not a single Astros player is getting into the All-Star Game? “No Astros made it past the first phase of voting for the All-Star Game,” MLB insider Brian McTaggart wrote on X.
No Astros made it past the first phase of voting for the All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/lsv77DSVbG
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 26, 2025
The complete list of the first phase of voting shows players from the White Sox and the Astros are not there. Well, the White Sox (26-55) missing the bus is hardly a surprise. But the Astros? The list shows that the Astros player who got the highest votes was Jose Altuve, followed by Jeremy Pena. And both ended up as the third choice.
Well, the Astros could have gotten a name on the list if they still had Alex Bregman at the hot corner. The likes of Bregman and Ryan Pressly left Houston in the last offseason. So, the team might have lost the star power to get into the All-Star scene. But what do the numbers say?
This season, Jeremy Pena is hitting a scorching .326 with 11 homers, while putting up a Gold Glove-level defense as well. Hunter Brown? Well, he’s not just been good; he’s been dominant, posting a 1.88 ERA that puts him in ace territory. With numbers like these, you’d expect at least one of them to be in serious All-Star contention. But that’s not the case.
Considering how the Astros are currently performing, a successful October is all that matters now.
The Astros got a larger target hereon
It was three years ago, in 2022, when the Astros last won the World Series. Last year, they finished first in the division but still couldn’t get their hands on the ring. This year, hence, the target is to achieve the coveted piece. Yes, an All-Star snub isn’t great, but honestly, the Astros have a larger objective.
Missing out on All-Star selections might be individual setbacks for the Astros players, but it could be a blessing in disguise for the team. How?
The Astros’ winning percentage has crashed down since 2022. They had 106 wins to their name in 2022, 90 in 2023, and only 88 in 2024. Now, this year, the tide has to be turned, and for that, a team with less wear and tear is needed.
Fewer All-Star features mean less midseason wear and tear for key contributors. The league is now going deep, and instead of the All-Star workload, the Astros’ key performers will get valuable rest. That’s crucial in the long grind of a 162-game season. For a team like the Astros, which is already navigating injuries, every bit of downtime counts.
With one of their old stars rumored to get associated with the team again this year, the Astros surely have a larger objective to achieve. If anything, the All-Star snub is a good chance for the team to sit back and relax and get into the league with a rejuvenated squad. October dreams are well and truly on!
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